Washing apparatus



M hzs, 1944.

D. A. EDGAR WASHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 23, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l .EDG AR INVENTOR I BYW.OWJD C DORIS A ATTORNEY D. A. EDGAR WASHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 25, 1940 March 28, 1944.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Deals A. EDGAR V INVENTQR? BY ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,345,185 wssnmo msna'rus Doris A. Edgar, Spokane, Wash. Application'December 2:. 1940, Serial No. 371,417

6 Claims. My invention relates to improvements in washing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for washing soiled dishes as well as clothes in the same vat and by the use of the same mechanism for imparting a turbulence to washing fluid in the case of clothes washing, and for imparting a' spray movement for the washing fluid in the case of dishes. 4

In carrying out my invention I have devised washing apparatus that is mounted in avat or washing chamber and is driven in an oscillatory manner by an electric motor or other suitable power driving mechanism. It is a prime object of my invention to provide improved apparatus of this character whereupon when the washing vat is supplied with a. predetermined quantity of cleansing water. for either clothes or dishes a most efllcient cleansing action will be efl'ected.

In adapting a washing vat that is suitable for clothes washing, to use for dish-washing it is necessarytoprovide suitable racks or baskets of an open work nature for supporting the utensils in the vat during the washing operation. Such mechanism must be capable of being readily installed in the vat and of adequately supporting dishware, glasses, cups and the like that maybe placed therein and also be equipped to receive silverware and small pieces of culinary use that it may. be desired to wash. Such equipment must also support the glassware and the like out of possible contact with the impeller mechanism to preclude damage that may occur. It is therefore another object or my invention to provide an improved removable dish, glassware and flatware, supporting trays and baskets for use in a washing apparatus.

In order to wash botlr dishes and clothes, a washing apparatus, to be practical, must be capable of imparting turbulence to a relatively large quantity of cleansing. fluid for the clothes washing operation and of imparting a stream or jet-like motion to quantities of a relatively small amount of cleansing fluid for the dish washing operation.

A further object of my invention, therefore, has

been the provisionin a washing apparatus of an impeller capable of violently agitating and stirring quantities of washing fluid and clothes therein being washed; and also, on other occasions and in relatively shallow water, be capable of scoo ing up and throwing streams or jets of washing fluid for dishwashing operation.

A still further object of this invention has been the provision of an impeller of the nature de-' oscillatory.

scribed and'which' isoperable in an manner within the washing vat.

' through .a washing vat having installed Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of an impeller of. the nature described that is simple of construction and 01 operation in a washing apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course 01' the following description wherein I set forth a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawings for a more complete understanding of this invention, it will be seen that Figure l is a vertical, medial sectional view therein the elements of my invention, a

Figure 2 is a fragmentary. horizontal, sectional view taken as though on lines 2-.2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the impeller taken on lines 3-3 of Figure 5,

Figure 4 is -a vertical cross-sectional view through a portion of the impeller taken on lines 4-4 of Figure 5,

Figure 5 is a plan View, with portions broken away for convenience of illustration, of the impeller employed in my washing apparatus,

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detailed view of the manner of joining the vat lip and the edge of the cover in a water-tightmanner,

Figure 7 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the joinder I have devised for the edge of a protective hood that I fit over my impeller, with the bottom of the vat.

Referring now to Figure 1 I have shown my invention in assembled form as comprising an 1 upright rectangular washing chamber or vat Ill having a relatively flat bottom l2 and adapted for receiving clothes to be washed as well I as for receiving racks and trays for the placement of dishes and other utensils to be cleansed, together with a quantity of suitable washing fluid such as hot soapy water. The vat III, while rectangular. is provided. with round vertical corners l4 and rounded bottom corners l 6 so that it has asmooth unobstructed interior adapted to be enameled or finished with a total absence oi cracks or crevices in which dirt might accumulate.

A suitable removable cover It is shown in Figure 1 as having a handle or knob 20. This cover has a lip 22 that is slightly arcuate and is adapted to seat flrmly against a resilient gasket or seal 24 that is supported on the lip 25. Lip 26 is disposed angularly outward around a perimeter of the upper edge or the vat. Lip 2| may have a rolled rim 2' as can clearly be seen in Figures 1 and 6. While the vat together with its bottom wall and cover may be made of any suitable material I relation to those numbered 52.

g 2,845,18ti

prefer to form them sheet metal preferably of the rest resisting type which may be either plated or enameled. Depending from the bottom exterior of the tub is a frusto conical skirt that may be either round or rectangular. This skirt is rigidly joined to the vat bottom and has the rolled rim 32 to make it rigid and strong enough to support the weight of the vat and its contents. Approximately centrally of the chamber formed interior of the depending skirt Ill, I mount on bases 35 a suitable electric motor 34 that has associated therewith a speed reducer mechanism 16 from which protrudes the drive shaft 38. Shaft 88 extends upwardly through the vat bottom and engages the impeller to drive it.

In the form of my invention that is described and illustrated, I employ an oscillating impeller that may be rotated a part of a revolution clockwise and then be reversed as to direction and 20 rotate a portion of a revolution counter-clock wise. Therefore, with this formof my invention, not only is the mechanism 36 required to reduce the speed of the motor 34 but also it must convert a uni-directional rotary motion into an intermittent oscillatory motion.

The tub bottom II, as can best be seen in Figure 3, is raised upwardly to form the inverted packing 'cup 40 to receive packing 42. The gland nut 44 is threaded therein and encircles the smooth portion oi'the shaft 38. Depending upon the degree of tightness that the packing 42 is compressed by the nut 44, it is possible by this I structure to produce a water tight connection at the point where the shalt enters the vat.

My impeller, designated as a whole by the numeral 48, is of the multiple-blade type wherein a plurality'of blades are disposed angularly to each other and all radial from a common point. As can best be seen in Figures 3, 4, and 5 the impeller comprises .a central member or hub 41 rotatable or oscillatable on a vertical axis. Interiorly of the hub is the socket II that is adapted to receive and engage the splined or squared end 49 of shaft 38 and this socket is enlarged at 50 in the lower end of member 41 so as to fit over the packing cup I and permit the bottom flangga 5| attached to the hub to lie close to the inne surface of the vat bottom l2.

Above the impeller bottom and surrounding 50 the hub are a series of water scoops 52 that are all directed in a single direction. In the impeller of the drawings another series of water scoops 53 is also supported on said impeller but in opposed curve to direct liquid upwardly and they terminate in upwardly directed discharge ports and 55. As the impeller is rotated in one direction fluldis scooped by the members 52 or 53 and impinges because of inertia upon the curved wall 0 ii and thereby is caused to change direction and v to rise to the ports I4 and 55.

The form of impeller, illustrated in thedrawings forming a part of this specification, is that' which I prefer to use for oscillatory motion in the 65 vat and comprises the opposed series of scoops so that a compound action results from its operation. In otherwords cleansing fluid is scooped and raised in each stroke of the oscillating impeller. In the case of a uni-directional impeller 79 it is probable that a single series or scoops will be sufiicient and in certain oscillatory impellers a siizzgie scooping so on may sufice. in that event the opposed, scoops may be dispensed with he ccnst.

These scoops 55 his the impeller.

In forming the scoops 52, 53 on impeller 46, I provide a plurality of divider walls which radiate from hub 4'! and rise, perpendicularly from bottom flange ii. The lower portions of these divider .walls curve outwardly as at 56 and merge into the plane of the upper surface of flange 5i. Disposed over each wall and in spaced relation thereto is the agitator blade shell 60 which may be substantially U-shaped and is relatively thin. Shell 60 has a curved lip 6| that is spaced from flange II to form the mouth of the water scoops 52, 53. As the shell contour curves upwardly from lip 8| it tends to converge with the contour of the wall 58 to restrict the crosssectional area of the water scoops formed thereby. The outeredge 62 of the blade shells 60 curves upwardly and'inwardly to a crown 63 through which the Wm 54, as are formed as well' as the central jet opening 64.

On the outer ends or walls 58, the lower reaches oi the blade shells 8B widen out into wings 65 that Join with the bottom BI and enclose the side area of the scoops 52, 53 to prevent centrifugally outward movement of fluid picked up by the 25 Scoops- Between the openings 54 and 55 I provide the downwardly curved baifies 68 which part a rising stream of liquid cleanser and direct a portion outward through port Bl. Similarly baiiles 61 0 direct fluid through ports 55 and through the In the bottom of the vat l2, and encircling the area in which the impeller is operated, is an annular depression 12 into which I iit the grooved 35 resilient gasket ring II. A reticulated hood 16 of approximately conical shape is fitted over the impeller and has a lower lip ring 18 that tits into the groove of the gasket 14 and is retained in position by the resilient lips on either side of the groove. The hood 18 may also have'rings l0 and 8| to aflord it structural rigidity.

A suitable utensil supporting open-work basket is provided to ilt into the vat and to support dishes and the likein close position around the impeller and its reticulated hood. This basket is readily removable and comprises enclosing rings 82 and 83 ofwire' that are bent to conform to the shape of the vat. Vertical stays 85 tie these rings together in a rigid manner.

Centrally of the basket lateral tie bars are bent upwardly at an angle as 86 and rise to a cross bar 81 to which are fastened supporting rails 88. These rails extend laterally. in a direction opposite to bars 04 over the top of the impeller hood. The supporting rails .8 taken togetheri'orm a shelf ror the reception of the reticulated basket 90. This basket I form of rectangular frame members BI and I2 and has end handles 93.

In the lower portion or the main basket I provide a plurality of arches that stand upwardly from the bottom of the basket above the vat bottom and are useful inholding plates upright so that when they are stood on edge in the basket they will not slide on the bottom. Lateral divider bars 86 separate plates and are secured intermediatelyof the baskets, to the rail 82, to also assist in supporting 'and dividing plates that are stood in the baskets.

It will be understood that the reticulated bask Sill, which is useful for small objects like silver ware and other similar utensils, glasses, and the.

into the upper mouth of the vat or through a flexible hose it may be introduced to the nozzle 98 of theinlet and drainage valve 99 which is mounted at one point in the frusto-conical skirt 30. The key Hill on the valve stem operates the enclosed valv to open or close it. The valve 95 is connected to the elbow I 02 which is in turn connected by means of the coupling Hi4 to the vat bottom l2. When fluid is to be introduced to the vattm'ough this mechanism to the vat a hose may be slipped over the nozzle 98, the valve is opened and fluid under pressure is caused to flow upwardl into the vat. The valve 99is useful to control the flow of fluid from the source,

into the vat as well as to control the drainage of the vat when that be desired.

When the electro-motor 34 is energized and power is supplied to the oscillatory reducer mechanism 36, the impeller will be caused to rotate to and fro through partial revolutions to agitate the fluid in the vat. In the dishwashing operation it is desirable to immerse the impeller about half its height but not to cover the slits 54 and 55 nor the Jet opening 64. Thus, when the impeller oscillates in such a, quantity of fluid; depending upon the direction of travel, either scoop 52 or scoop 53 will pick up and elevate a quantity of fluid. By reason of the sloping surfaces of the divider walls 58 this fluid will be conducted to the slits 54 and 55 and the Jet opening 84, from whence it will be elected in "a spray that is thrown over the dishes or other utensils that have been placed within the vat.

When it is desired to use the washing mechanism for the cleansing of clothes, or of other objects that may be cleaned by being agitated in'a liquid; the dishwashing racks are removed from the vat and a quantity of cleansing fluid is supplied thereto to a suitable depth and preferably to cover the impeller; .The material being cleansed is added, the cover placed over the mouth of the vat, and the motor 34 is next energized. The washing operation proceeds as is conventional in all apparatuses em loyin t bulence producing impeller.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairLv within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Iclaim: m 3

1. In a washing apparatus, an impeller comprising a central member mounted for-motion about a vertical axis, a horizontal bottom flange on said central member, a plurality of walls pro- .iecting outwardly from said central member and rising above said bottom flange, a blade shell over each said wall and spaced therefrom to form throats having pickup mouths adjacent the said flange.

2. An oscillatable impeller comprising a hub having a flange extending radiall from the bottom of said hub and outwardly. projecting divider walls, each said wall having its lower end curved to merge into the said flange in a substantially horizontal plane, a shell enclosing said hub and having hollow blade enclosing said walls in spaced relation on their faces to form passages on each side thereof, said shell being portedin its upper portion and having lower ports adjacent each curved lower end of each wall.

3. A liquid impeller comprising a hub having outwardly projecting vertical walls, each said wall having a lower flange inclined in the direc tion .of rotation, a shell enclosing said hub and having hollow blades each enclosing a wall in spaced relation from one face at least to define a throat therebetween,. said shell being ported adjacent each said lower flange and also being ported in its upper portion above said hub whereby liquid picked up bysaid flanges passes through the throats and is directed upwardly for discharge from the impeller.

4. An oscillatable liquid impeller having radially symmetrical hollow blades and being ported in its upper face, each hollow blade having a lower port on each side adapted to receive liquid in either direction of rotation, and a divider wall in each blade between said lower ports whereby interior throat-like passages are formed through which liquid received in the lower ports is conducted for discharge upwardly.

5. An oscillatable liquid impeller having radially symmetrical hollow blades, each hollow blade having a, lower port on each side, a flange adjacent the lower edge of each said ports to pick up fluid in either direction of rotation, and a divider wall merging with the flanges of opposed openings in each blade and located between said ports whereby interior throat-like passages are formed through which fluid received in the lower ports is conducted for discharge upwardly.

6. An impeller having a flanged hub and radially symmetrical hollow blades, said blades being ported along their upper edges. each hollow blade having a lower side port adapted to receive fluid from the flange when the impelle i te the hollow interior of each said blade constitut ing throat-like passages for conducting liquid re- 

